15 March 2016 - Philippine Health Undersecretary Lilibeth C. David shared the Philippine experience, initiatives and way forward in climate change and its impact on the right to health during the panel discussion at the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 03.
Undersecretary David lamented that “climate change has significantly impacted the health of Filipinos in tangible ways – in the resulting health losses due to an increasing number of devastating extreme weather events, and in the shifting patterns of climate sensitive diseases.”
She said that the number of leptospirosis cases rose dramatically – up to five times more than its incidence in 2008 as a result of massive flooding brought about by tropical storm Ketsana and typhoon Parma in 2009.
“Dengue has also continually plagued the country with an overall increase in incidence over time, with fluctuating incidence punctuated by epidemics” she added.
Undersecretary David noted that super typhoon Haiyan in 2013, one of the strongest tropical cyclones in recorded history, highlighted the capacity of global climate change to wipe out health sector gains and inflict catastrophic losses of life, limb, and properties, saying, “It (typhoon Haiyan) claimed thousands of lives and destroyed people’s livelihood.”
Furthermore, “These climate change induced natural disasters pushed our health system to the brink and made us realize the urgent need for collective support measures within and outside the health sector to address the effects of global climate change.”
Way Forward
Undersecretary David noted that the Philippines moved forward by building back better for a more resilient health system and learning from and building on the lessons from previous natural disaster, saying, “Prepositioning of supplies, human resources, and equipment and pre-emptive evacuation of affected populations helped avert deaths.”
She added, “Our emergency response became more comprehensive covering a broad range of programs, including mental health and psychosocial support. We have deployed more health workers, developing competent and compassionate health workforce. Minimum initial service package for sexual and reproductive health was provided to address the needs of women and children at the early stages of crises.”
In consonance with the principles of equity and social protection adopted in the national policy on climate change adaptation for the health sector, Undersecretary David explained that the Philippine rehabilitation efforts strengthened the disability referral system, implemented community-based rehabilitation service, and trained non-specialist doctors and nurses on disability-inclusive health and rehabilitation services at the primary health care level.
Undersecretary David also revealed that a crucial component of the effort to “build, back, better” strategy was the construction of stronger health infrastructures: reconstruction in “areas that are less prone to storm surge” and making sure that hospitals as the last facility standing and as safe havens – hubs for energy, water, logistics, communications, and shelter needs of the affected population. Hospital compounds are now built in sensible areas that could also provide secure shelter for the typhoon/disaster victims with the capability for emergency and provision of water and energy in sufficient quantities.
Organized by the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UN and Other International Organizations with partner states and in coordination with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the panel discussion at the 31st Session of the UN Human Rights Council took place against the backdrop of the recent adoption of the first universal legally binding agreement on climate change in Paris in December 2015.
Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, stressed the timeliness of the holding of the panel discussion, which was organized right after the inclusion of the human rights language, for the first time, in a climate change agreement.
Ambassador Rebong pointed out that the Preamble to the Paris Agreement states that “parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity.”
The inclusion of the human rights language in the Paris Agreement reflects growing recognition of the connections between climate change and the enjoyment of human rights, specifically the human right to health. END